NAGPUR: Rain fails to dampen happiness on streets

NAGPUR: Scattered rains failed to dampen spirits at Happy Streets as people flocked to the venue in large numbers on Sunday. Citizens of all ages played an active role in various recreational activities including yoga, zumba and dancing.
An initiative by The Times of India and Maharashtra Times, Happy Streets had an attractive feature this Sunday where visitors cheered cyclists who participated in the Nagpur City Police Cyclothon.
Businessman Ankesh Kamdar, a regular visitor at Happy Streets, said, “Applauding cyclists and showering them with flowers while they were passing through was a unique experience. Happy Streets and the cyclothon both promote an active lifestyle, which is extremely vital in today’s world.”
Engineer Omkar Dande said, “Happy Streets should be a regular event.” His friends echoed his sentiment. “There should also be awareness activities regarding women’s safety as its importance is growing day by day,” he added.
Student Prasanna Dandewade was excited to be back at the event after a long break due to the pandemic. “It’s interesting to see people come out with friends and family to exercise and socialize with others,” he said.
Awareness campaigns educated attendees about their initiative. Save Soil volunteer Radhika Thakre said, “This is a great platform to enlighten people about the movement as the event is beaming with energy from youngsters.”
She added, “The way huge crowds are being managed is commendable.”
Citizens reminisced about their childhood while playing classic games such as snakes and ladders and tug of war. Interior designer Pooja Goyal said, “This is the most effective approach to get people up and moving early in the morning as they start their day with fun activities.”
Handmaze stationery founder Anula Goenka was glad to see the active involvement of the youth. “To see such vibrancy early in the morning among youngsters is a pleasure for mothers like me. This is the energy needed in every city. Let’s keep this going,” she said.
Owner of Batukbhai Jewellers Kishore Sheth said, “The liveliness of Nagpurians during Happy Streets is simply unparalleled. It’s amazing to see people start lining up as early as 6am for such exciting activities.”
Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) chairman Manoj Suryawanshi, former corporator Sanjay Bangale, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi, Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress general secretary Ketan Thakre and director of municipal administration Kiran Kulkarni flagged off this Sunday’s Happy Streets.
Quotes
I have been coming here since the last three years. I love watching kids participate in different games and events. The energy here is great
Sujata Joshi
I love the vibrancy and happiness of this place that we gather the whole day. The ambience of this place is worth experiencing
Surekha Kalkar
I came here for the first time in 2019. It’s a wonderful session after the outbreak of Covid. The hustle and bustle of this place is energising and exciting
Ipsita Jana
I came here for the first time when I was studying in standard 5. I can feel the nostalgia kicking in. I love all the events, especially Zumba and tug of war
Daksh Goel
There’s so much happening everywhere. It’s definitely true to its name, Happy Streets. The best part was the DJ who made the whole atmosphere energetic
Rena Bukkawar
(Reporting by Parneet Randhawa)